Daily Reading 2-3-17
James 3:13-18New Living Translation (NLT)
Scripture teaches God has united us with Christ and for our benefit made Christ to be wisdom itself (1 Corinthians 1:30). Wisdom is associated with righteous motives; it is pure, peace-loving, gentle, and merciful. Simply put, wisdom is the spirit of Christ revealed in humble people through effective practice of God’s ways.
Pride on the other hand stirs anger and contention, is puffed up, self-exalting, and demands its own way. Simply put, pride is the spirit of fallen humanity operating in human understanding apart from God; it is foolishness and manifests in arrogant destructive competitiveness.
James 3:13-18 True Wisdom Comes from God
13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
Prayer: I pray for my heart to be right before you, Lord. Bring to my understanding any prideful attitudes or motives that need sanctification and healing. Help me to be a great citizen of this country by practicing wisdom in my own life. I pray for peace and wisdom to rule in this country. In Jesus’ name. Amen.